13 December 2004
Working Hard to Reduce Crime in Tennant Creek
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Peter Toyne MLA
Minister for Justice
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There’s no use beating around the bush about the latest crime statistics in Tennant Creek, the year-on-year figures are disappointing.
This has increased the Government’s already strong resolve to fix the problems by working with police and the community.
There were 55 more assaults (20 percent increase) in the current four quarters’ data compared to the previous four quarters.
The year-on-year comparisons also show overall the number of offences against the person in Tennant Creek increased by 14 percent or 42 more offences. And the total number of property offences increased by seven percent or 52 more offences.
An encouraging sign is a drop in the number of recorded sexual assault offences in Tennant Creek.
There were seven less sexual assault offences (41 percent decrease) in the current four quarters’ data compared to the previous four quarters.
Minister for Justice Dr peter Toyne said a multi-layered approach is being used to tackle crime in Tenant Creek.
“Police and the Barkly Region Safer Committee are working together to try and reduce the number of assaults in the town,” he said.
“Police have launched a four pronged attack on assaults, in particular domestic violence.”
“A safe house scheme has been established to give people refuge from offenders while they wait for the police to arrive.”
“The return-to-home scheme is also being bolstered to get people back into their own communities.”
“Repeat offenders are also being targeted and police are cracking down on weapons in the community.”
An important part of these overall positive results is the bolstering of police resources under the $75 million Building Our Police Force Plan.
There are more police in operational duties across the Territory.
Between August 2003 and the end of May 2004 the number of operational officers has increased by over 109 and the number of Aboriginal Community Police Officers has increased by 17.
The Barkly Region Communities Safe Strategy and Action Plan has also been adopted and is dedicated to:
- making places safer and planning for community friendly spaces
- working together to create safer communities and beating safety problems
- co-ordinating the implementation of aboriginal cultural laws and recognising the police role in keeping us safe
- providing opportunities for young people to live, grow and contribute to a safe community, and
- celebrating our culture and heritage to engender a society that values safe and acceptable behaviour
Tennant Creek has been one of the major beneficiaries of Crime Prevention Grants:
- $20,000 for anti-vandalism/anti-graffiti project
- $43,637 for the first year of ‘Real Justice in the Territory Schools’ pilot project, Tennant Creek High School is one of four involved.
- $13,280 for a ‘Sk8 Park Recreation Project’
“These sorts of community projects along with work being done by departments from Health and Education to Community Development and Justice, all work to help address crime in the Northern Territory ,” Dr Toyne said.
The figures are from the Quarterly Crime and Justice Statistics compiled by the Office of Crime Prevention. The statistics are derived from recorded crime figures in the Territory.
Year to Year comparisons:
This data compares figures from the total number of offences in the 12 months to September 04 to the total number of offences in the 12 months to September 03. Key findings include:
- robberies decreased 60% (3 less offences)
- house break-ins increased 24% (21 more offences)
- commercial break-ins increased 25% (17 more offences)
- motor vehicle theft and related offences increased 7% (2 more offences)
Quarter to Quarter comparisons:
Quarterly comparisons are the figures from the June 04 quarter (April/May/June) compared to the figures from the September 04 quarter (July/August/Sept). Key findings include:
- total number of offences against the person were down by 36% (39 less offences)
- robberies decreased 100% (1 less offence)
- assaults decreased 30 % (30 less offences)
- sexual assaults decreased 100% (6 less offence)
- total number of property offences decreased 42% (116 less offences)
- house break-ins decreased 27% (13 less offences)
- commercial break-ins increased 67% (20 less offences)
- motor vehicle theft and related offences decreased 33% (2 less offences)
- property damage offences decreased 44% (43 less offences)
Trends:
Trends are detected when there is a statistically significant upward or downward movement in recorded crime levels of the last 12 months’ data. There was a downward trend recorded for motor vehicle theft and related offences. No other trends were identified for offences in Tennant Creek.
September Quarter 2004 Crime and Justice Statistics and Regional Fact Sheets are available online at www.crimeprevention.nt.gov.au
NOTE:
- The above statistics are a measure of recorded crime across the Territory.
- The data is collected from the Police Real-time On-line Management Information System.
- Nationally it is recognised that there are varying levels of un-reported crime in our community but that recorded crime is the best available measure of changes in the level of crime in a community.
- Statistics in the Territory can be highly volatile, with large swings from one period or another. This is particularly the case for regional centres where small populations and changes in operational or administrative procedures may heavily influence statistics.